Slips and falls are serious anywhere, but if you concentrate just on occurrences in private homes, an arresting statistic jumps out right away- falls are responsible for 50% of all accidental deaths in the home.
Let’s take a look at two of the top causes of a slip and fall in a private home. We can take a look at how they happen, how to avoid them yourself, and how to make sure your home is safe for guests, repair people, and anyone else.
Obviously, the statistic above is a sobering piece of information for anyone, but this is especially true for anyone living with and/or caring for elderly family members. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, every year 30% of people over the age of 65 will sustain a fall. Apparently, for every decade of life lived, the likelihood of a fall increases. And these falls can have terrible effects on people’s lives. Most people over 75 who sustain a hip injury from a fall are not able to care for themselves independently after the event.
And that death statistic takes an even darker turn when we consider exclusively older populations: 67% of fall fatalities are among people aged 75 years or older.
To ensure the people from older generations are safe in your home, the best defense is monitoring. Whether this is digital or in-person will depend on the person themselves. Get advice from your doctor about what your relatives can handle on their own. Make sure there are railings close by to the bed, shower, and chairs being used. Make sure shoes and slippers are in good shape and offer the assistance of a walker or cane if needed. You may also have to educate the person about how to use the device, which may require a doctor visit or an occupational therapist.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year. In fact, the majority of injuries stemming from falls occur at ground level, not from an elevation. And floors themselves are not the only problem; rugs and carpets are often to blame as well. Threads can get caught on someone’s foot, or the material can get bunched together, causing serious accidents.
For the safety of you and your guests, make sure to do a walk-through on a regular basis. Take note of any uneven surfaces, bunched-up rugs, or broken stairs. Put these at the top of your to-do list, especially before any decorative jobs. Dealing with an unstylish kitchen is a lot better than a broken leg.
Even after taking all the precautions possible, accidents still happen. If you have suffered a fall on private or public property, reach out to a qualified attorney to help you make sense of the situation. And, even in an uncertain world, we can all increase our safety by remaining calm, taking it slow, and looking where we are going. No matter what may be on the ground, if you see it and avoid it, it can not cause you an injury.
blogs
Safety Tips for Rideshares
Companies like Uber, Lyft, and others have changed the game when it comes to the gig economy, the taxi industry, and, of course, just getting around in general. For most of us passengers, these ridesharing companies offer an increase in convenience, especially in California where public transport is not entirely dependable. Besides the convenience issue, […]
Bicycle Safety Tips
Bicycling might be the true essence of freedom in transportation. No dependence on anyone to get around except yourself, no motor to make you drive out of control, and you can park your bike just about anywhere. Still, safety while riding a bicycle is just as important as with any other mode of transportation, especially […]
Slip and Fall Injuries in Arizona and California
In desert climates especially, some property managers have a tendency to not count on inclement weather when it comes to the upkeep of their properties. This means that, over time, things like rain and seismic shifts can slowly wear away at all kinds of surfaces, making them unsafe to walk on. While property managers may […]
Motorcycle Safety Tips
Riding a motorcycle is exhilarating and freeing. It also can be quite dangerous. Equip yourself with preparedness to ensure every trip you take ends only with a smile and a safe arrival. As always, if the unfortunate does happen, navigating the aftermath of a motorcycle accident is a large undertaking. We are here to help […]
Workman’s Compensation — Beyond Physical Accidents
Every year in California, we see workman’s compensation claims that stem from traumatic injuries, accidents, and even accumulative physical strain. But what about the more subtle effects that can harm employees over time? Let’s take a look at toxic exposure in the workplace and what it means for you as an employee. If we are […]
Personal Injury Law In California
In California, many individuals fall victim to wrongful diagnosis, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, dog bites, catastrophic injuries, nursing home negligence, train accidents, and pedestrian accidents due to other people’s carelessness. That is why the California personal injury law is in existence. It aims at protecting the moral and legal entitlements of those injured […]
Bike Maintenence Checklist
For those of us who bike to work, it’s clear that riding around is more than a hobby. Biking is something that can improve your mental and physical health. It can become a way of life, because to do it right takes commitment. You need to learn the best and fastest bike routes, have all […]
Five Products for Increased Pedestrian Safety
While pedestrians typically have the right of way in most places, that doesn’t automatically make everyone around you a better or safer driver. As pedestrians, we have to activelypractice safety in order to make sure that we are the ones most responsible for our personal safety. Staying aware of our surroundings is always step number […]
Mold and LA Renters — Know Your Rights
You may have heard of “mold growth” in passing. Depending on the situation, the story you heard may have been about a simple annoyance, a house deal that fell through, or a sneezing fit. However, there are a lot worse stories than that out there; mold can cause severe allergies, incapacitation, and even worse health […]
Ridesharing and Car Accidents
Ridesharing services like Uberpool and Lyft are a pretty popular way to get around. According to surveys, the ridesharing industry will reportedly have a market value of over $220 by 2025. However, this increasing popularity is no surprise, as ridesharing services are convenient and cheap. However, while convenient, ridesharing services are not all sunshine and […]
contact form
